Elite athletic performance and general fitness are sustained through structured hypertrophy strategies, sport-specific conditioning, and rigorous adherence to injury prevention protocols.
Although related, muscular strength and size depend on different training protocols for enhancement. For instance, large-muscled bodybuilders are likely less strong than smaller-muscled Olympic weightlifters, or strength athletes, due to differences in muscle physiology and training programs.
Read more →
You're probably aware that weight lifting can result in sore muscles -- but you may be surprised to discover that your training session resulted in a sore, stiff neck and head. While it might seem odd, it's a typical response to poor form, and in most cases it's not cause for serious concern.
Read more →
A leg-extension machine isolates and strengthens the muscles on the front of your upper leg, your quadriceps. Proper form, weight and technique are required in order to avoid injury on this machine. Even using those precautions, knee injuries may still occur due to genetic weakening of cartilage, tendons or ligaments.
Read more →
Almost everyone has a trouble area on their body that they would like to change; the stomach is a common spot for such attention. Unfortunately, you cannot spot reduce fat from the stomach or any other area of your body.
Read more →
Instead of a stack of weights like most home gym units, the Total Gym workout machine system uses your own body weight as resistance. The unit features two pulleys and a sliding bench that can be adjusted for incline to make an exercise more or less challenging.
Read more →
Indigestion is a general term typically used to describe an uncomfortable feeling in your upper abdomen. Indigestion includes heartburn or acid reflux, as well as bloating and gas.
Read more →
Say it like a mantra: your stomach is more than your abs. While the six-pack may be the star of the show, it's your other core muscles -- the obliques and transverse abdominis -- that act as the literal supporting cast to hold you in and give you a well-defined torso.
Read more →
Sportline is a Yonkers, New York, company that produces devices to manage exercise effectiveness and distance. The company website notes that it is the global leader in fitness monitoring instruments. Pedometers track your activity as you walk.
Read more →
If you're a bodybuilder or a heavy lifter, you may seek a "pumped-up" look and feeling when lifting weights at the gym. When your muscles become engorged with blood, they stretch to accommodate the extra fluid – so they feel tight and you look bigger. The "pump" improves your muscle-building efforts, too.
Read more →
Exercising helps to improve blood flow to vital organs and improve your cardiovascular health. If you are experiencing symptoms such as blue fingers, fingernail beds, lips or skin when you exercise or overexert yourself, this could be a sign of a serious medical condition.
Read more →
Inversions are regularly practiced in yoga for their ability to relieve stress, elongate the spine and aid the body’s circulatory system; inversion tables provide similar benefits, without having to balance on your head or hands.
Read more →
Hyperexpanded lungs occur when the air sacs of the lungs break down and become enlarged. This affects the lungs’ ability to take in new air, making it difficult to breathe, particularly when you exhale.
Read more →
Training frequency is a really important part of developing your body. Train too little, and you won't see any results. Train too much, and you risk injury, illness and mental burn-out. Each body part should be trained two to three times per week on non-consecutive days. Aim for one or two full-body workouts per week.
Read more →
If your outer hips feel tight, stretching can help relieve the tightness. Runners and others who work out can stretch the outer hip muscles and the fibrous tissue of the iliotibial band to help release tension and relieve soreness.
Read more →
Building muscle requires a combination of strength-building exercises and eating high-quality foods that are high in protein. Nonfat milk is a high-quality food, containing approximately 8 g of protein and 83 calories in 1 cup, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Read more →
If you regularly ride a bicycle, but the cold weather outside stops you from being able to ride, turning your regular bicycle into a stationary bicycle is an easy way to find two uses for the same equipment. All you need is a special stand that converts your bicycle into a stationary bike trainer.
Read more →
Exercising the muscles of your throat can help prevent the snoring that’s annoying your partner, make swallowing food easier, give you a leaner and more appealing appearance and keep you looking young.
Read more →
Tai chi is a great exercise option for seniors, people recovering from surgery and anyone else looking for a low-impact workout. According to an article from Harvard University, tai chi is a "mind-body practice"
Read more →
The chest press helps you increase pushing strength in various positions, whether you're lying on your back, sitting or standing. However, the chest muscles aren't the only ones that are working.
Read more →
The inside of the upper leg or groin area has five muscles called adductors, according to the Sports Injury Clinic. The main function of these adductor muscles is to pull the legs back and help maintain balance. The adductors are small, and sometimes large compound movements miss them.
Read more →